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I love my big gay home decorating networkSome people, when dumped by their lover, fired from their job, or stricken with some hideously disfiguring skin condition, watch reruns of old sitcoms. Others tune into the “All Law and Order, all the time” network. Still others watch classic films from Hollywood’s Golden Age. But me? My “comfort TV” has, for many years now, been that warm and welcoming respite from reality known as the Home and Garden Network (HGTV).
I’m not sure why AfterElton.com hasn’t covered the gay gay gay gay gay HGTV universe in depth, nor why it took a dyke – albeit an extremely fabulous dyke with a thing for shoes and interior design – to make what is apparently only the third mention ever of the gayest network on TV today, barring, of course, Nick at Night. Of course there are gay decorators on HGTV, although as far as I can tell only one of them, Color Splash host David Bromstad, is really out. But that’s okay, because it’s not the decorators or hosts who make HGTV a beacon of social and cultural equality shining in the darkness of a nation trying very, very hard to keep us in a perpetual state of second class citizenship. No, it’s the completely matter-of-fact way in which queers are included among the house hunters, home remodelers, landscape-challenged, and even – yes – terminally disorganized who populate its shows. If a house in San Francisco needs its Curb Appeal lifted, the fact that its owners are two gay men is just part of the scenery. When House Hunters went to Sweden and helped a married couple find new digs, no one thought to comment that both spouses were women. In its quietly subversive but always color-coordinated, impressively well-decorated way, HGTV has modeled the new multi-cultural America, where people of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, faiths, and sexual orientations are equally deserving of helpful home decorating tips. And don’t think the religious right didn’t notice – way back in 2005, our friends at Media Matters reported that the army of the righteous was put on the alert for insidious pro-gay messages not only on HGTV, but Animal Planet, as well:
CALLER: I just wanted to make a comment that you really, really, really have to watch what you are watching on TV. I have come upon evidence of homosexuality and lesbian people on programs like HGTV and Animal Planet, where you really don't expect this to be an issue.I love you, HGTV. Never change.
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Submitted by on Tue, 2007-04-17 16:32. |
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Bravo & HGTV
The difference between how gay people are represented on Bravo and HGTV is remarkable. Bravo: "They're gay and they are Fabulous!" HGTV: "They're gay and so what?"
It's cool either way.
-Ron.
can't wait
I've seen every "How Not to Decorate" episode about a hundred times, and can't wait for "Colin and Justin's Home Heist" to start airing this year.
When I heard they were moving right into my back yard to look for decor disasters, I didn't know whether to be flattered or insulted. Hmm...best to hide behind the drapes if they happen to ding the bell, just to be on the safe side.
Are Colin and Justin
Yep. They've been together
That many years together is
colin and justin
How do you know if they
Colin & Justin tied the knot on Feb 15th
Here are a couple of articles about that:
Colin, Justin tie the knot
Colin & Justin's secret wedding
Mike Holmes
Is Holmes on Homes on HGTV???
I'd love me some Mike Holmes (oh and the show is good too!).
;)
I bet Mike is up to code. LOL
QTC
DO IT RIGHT !
Holmes on Homes
I believe Holmes on Homes is on The Learning Channel, or on Discovery Home (the two other channels that have a lot of do-it-yourself type programmes). He really does crack me up, because he reminds me so much of my brother (who also is a builder and who also likes to go around explaining just how other builders/renovators have totally screwed up certain projects).
I'm like a superhero, with no powers or motivation...
David Bromstad is Hot
David is so hot!
HGTV is one of my comfort channels as well. It's calming.
Colin and Justin
I've watched these two guys for years are various decorating shows. You only have to watch for 30 seconds to know they're gay. They are very much in love and it shows. They make a big deal of bickering and Colin is always calling Justin fat to make him crazy and throw a hissy fit. Justin will then chase Colin around until he catches him and tackles him down or something. There is a lot of goofiness in their shows but they also did a very serious show called Colin and Justin on the Estate, I think. They took on cleaning up a slum building in Glascow. It was a great show and they had a lot of bad stuff happen while filming it such as vandalism of the work they had done. There were times when they were both sobbing in frustration.
Lately, they have been teasing and torturing Canadians in the Toronto area that have horrible decorating sense.
They always finish off the lighter shows with the two of them lying on their bed drinking wine and watching a video of the places they have renoed a month later, complete with catty remarks. On almost every show on every series they've done, they mention that they are gay.
If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.
Age
Do you know Colin and Justin's actual ages. I was looking on the web about them and some were saying this Feb (2008) Justin would be 41 other places were saying for his b'day he would be 39.
Thanks
Hey I'm not really sure
Hey
I'm not really sure I believe they are 38-39yrs of age, and I think Colin's b'day is January-that's my guess...Maybe someone else knows...
ages
Bromstad ain't all that
Sorry, but David Bromstad ain't all that. For one thing, he's too fem for me. I guess because he has muscles, he likes to prance around with a tank top and sometimes no shirt. I am into bodybuilding and have entered a few contests in my day, but don't come off as fem like some of the recent HGTV carpenters, hosts, etc., who are there for eye candy. Wonder who hires these guys?
I have to admit
colin and justin
i love that they are gay as it kinda brings dudes like all of us to the fore in the media. Aside from the fact they do cool work they seem like geuninly nice guys. NOt over bearing like the first HGTV Designer Guys who has a short lived show on CBC, That was all wrong!
Twingo
colin and justin are both
colin and justin are both very well known in england and have presented many design programmes. they also took part in a show where they had to look after an anamatronic baby worth £150,000.
it was incredible to watch how loving they were towards the baby (i forget what they named it) they completely embraced the roles of parents. justin got quite upset at the end when they had to give the baby back and said it felt like the movie breakfast at tiffany's where she is looking at all the things she cant have and he said that he felt it was like that for him as he and colin couldnt have a baby.
they gained a lot more fans by showing a different side to themselves.
they are both brilliant and have a big following, both gay and straight.
Some people are just plain stupid
"CALLER: I just wanted to make a comment that you really, really, really have to watch what you are watching on TV. I have come upon evidence of homosexuality and lesbian people on programs like HGTV and Animal Planet, where you really don't expect this to be an issue."
Anyone that expresses surprise that there would be gay people on a TV channel devoted entirely to home improvement and decorating is simply too stupid to be met with anything but scorn.
Probably in the same category as ladies of years past who thought that Liberace was just a "charming bachelor".
HGTV the gay channel....
...well, how DARE all those icky gay people be all...DOMESTIC...and make nice homes together and gardens and...gasp...maybe even get MARRIED!!
Where on earth did you see or hear that caller Psionycx? Some people should NOT reproduce...
I say we take the warning labels off everything and let nature take it's course.
and speaking of Animal Planet...
...I don't watch it so am not sure what they have on there about homosexuality in animals but in my experience- my own horse had two great loves of his life. One was a male that died unexpectedly of colic while my horse stayed with him all night licking his ears until he was gone. The other love of his was a mare that was sold and he mourned her loss for a year. He seemed to love another horse based on personality not gender and by golly none of the other horses ever seemed to hold that against him! So you could say my horse was bisexual and his friends were not homophobic! Actually, if you google this subject, you get lots of info, too.
I say we take the warning labels off everything and let nature take it's course.
hahahaha
i love what the caller said...they mention homosexuality and lesbians...
EARTH TO CALLER...LESBIANS **ARE** HOMOSEXUALS!!
ah, people. as sad as it is...i am glad i can laugh about such ignorance. :-P
Barrowman had the "Keys to the Castle"
Another Ignorant Caller: Yes, Reverend Wildmon . . . it began innocently enough . . . a handsome young man taking us on a tour of lovely Scottish castles . . . but then . . . for just a moment, I turned my eyes away from the TV to move the Holy Bible from my lap to the coffee table, and when I looked back up . . . that young man was wearing one of those homosexual kilts! It turns out he wasn't even a real American! Well, it was such a pity, because I was enjoying the program, but I just had to turn it off. Yes, you really, really do have to watch what you are watching on TV.
DAMN! How do I keep missing this program? Barrowman . . . beautiful backsi . . . er, I mean countryside . . . and castles. What could be better than that?
LONG LIVE HGTV!